MA in English Linguistics

Introduction

This MA programme offers students the opportunity to study the English language in depth at postgraduate level. Specifically, it aims to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to describe Modern English. The programme is of interest to those who wish to continue for a research degree in English Language or Linguistics, those who wish to become teachers or lecturers of English, or those intending to pursue a career in writing.

Application Requirements

Applications are welcome from candidates who have a second class Honours degree in English language or literature, or in linguistics, or an overseas equivalent. Some prior knowledge of English language studies (specifically English grammar) is expected for the programme. Applications for places on this course are considered at any time throughout the year. For 2013 entry applications must be received by 2nd August.

For further details on applying please see our applications and enquiries page.

Curriculum and Assessment

The programme extends over one calendar year for full-time students and two calendar years for part-time students. Teaching takes place over two terms: the autumn term runs from from October to December and the spring term runs from from January until the end of March. Examinations take place after the Easter break at the end of April/early May. Students write their dissertations over the summer. The programme of the MA in English Linguistics is structured around two obligatory core courses, namely English Grammar and Methodology and Phonetics and Phonology of Modern English, two optional courses (which form part of the component Topics in English Linguistics), a Portfolio of Essays, and a Dissertation. The core courses are taught in weekly seminars over two terms. The option courses are taught either in the autumn or spring term. The table below offers an overview with information about assessment and credit weightings.

Component Assessment Credits
English Grammar and Methodology (core course) Three-hour examination paper in April/May 30
Phoneticsand Phonologyof Modern English (core course) Three-hour examination paper in April/May and a short practical examination 30
Topics in English Linguistics (two option courses must be chosen) Three-hour examination paper in April/May 30
Portfolio of Essays Submission by the end of April of two essays written during the academic year 30
Dissertation of 10,000 words Submission by 1 September of the year following entry to the programme 60

Different option courses are offered each year. In past years they have included:

English Corpus Linguistics

Foundations of Linguistics

Categorisation and Gradience

English Words

English Sociolinguistics

Logic and Meaning

Students are principally taught through seminars and feedback sessions. Over the year they write a number of essays, and they do presentations during the spring term. They have access to the Survey of English Usage (see below), and are taught how to make use of its resources for their dissertations.

The MA in English Linguistics (MAEL) and the MA in Linguistics (MAL)

There are important differences between the MA in English Linguistics (MAEL) and the MA in Linguistics (MAL). First, the former is based in the English Department while the MA in Linguistics is based in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences. Content-wise the MAEL focuses on the English language, and has a more descriptive outlook than the theoretically-oriented MAL, which does not have an exclusive focus on any particular language.

Part-Time Students

Part-time students take the English Grammar and Methodology course in their first year, together with one option course. During the second year they take the Phonetics and Phonology of Modern English course, as well as the second option course. The dissertation will be written during the summer of the second year of study. Part-time students will be encouraged to work on their dissertations over the summer following their first year. Please note that if you intend to work, your employer will need to allow you to work flexibly, as it will not be possible to make special timetable arrangements for part-time students. Please also note that there are restrictions on non-EU students applying for part-time places.

Opportunities for Further Research

Students who have obtained good results for their MA examinations may be considered for the MPhil/PhD programme.

Research Resources

The Department of English Language and Literature houses the Survey of English Usage (SEU), an unparalleled resource for research into the grammatical repertoire of mature educated native speakers of English. The SEU houses several corpora (large collections of authentic spoken and written texts), among them the British component of the International Corpus of English which can be explored using innovative search software. Many important studies of the grammar, semantics and vocabulary of present-day English – among them the Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (Quirk et al. 1985) which is recognised internationally as the standard reference grammar for English – are based on SEU material.

Students can register for modules taught in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, depending on availability. It occupies a leading place in the world in the field of theoretical linguistics. It includes an important unit that undertakes research into speech perception and problems related to disorders of speech and language. Its specially designed listening centre may claim to have the best experimental facilities in Britain.

Students at UCL have a wide range of online resources at their disposal.

There are several outstanding libraries in the vicinity of UCL, including the British Library and the University of London Library.

What Students Say

Benjamin Lukoff writes: “I began the MA program unaware of just how high the academic reputations of my instructors were, but it was a most welcome surprise. UCL English is truly a world-class department in a world-class university in a world-class city and I continue to value the education I received there.”

David Marsh (a former mature part-time student) writes:

“...After all, this time it’s costing me money. But, to be fair, it is worth every penny: the course is great, and so is the teaching.” More... [Hell Part 2 - sitting exams]

Academic Staff Participating in the Programme

  • Bas Aarts, Professor of English Linguistics and Director of the Survey of English Usage, author of Small Clauses in English (1992), English Syntax and Argumentation (1997/2001/2008), Syntactic Gradience (2007), Exploring Natural Language (2002, with Gerald Nelson and Sean Wallis), and the Oxford Modern English Grammar (2011); co-editor of The Verb in Contemporary English (1995, with Charles F. Meyer), of Fuzzy Grammar (2004, with David Denison, Evelien Keizer and Gergana Popova) and of The Handbook of English Linguistics (2006, with April McMahon). Aarts is also an editor of the Cambridge University Press journal English Language and Linguistics.
  • Dr Kathryn Allan, Lecturer in English, author of Metaphor and Metonymy: a Diachronic Approach (2009), editor (with M. Winters and H. Tissari) of Contributions to Historical Cognitive Linguistics: Syntax and Semantics (2010), editor of Current Methods in Historical Semantics (with J. Robinson) (2011), and a number of journal publications.

Students are principally taught through seminars and feedback sessions. Over the year they write a number of essays, and they do presentations during the spring term. They have access to the Survey of English Usage (see below), and are taught how to make use of its resources for their dissertations.